X Country COC trip ideas

WEST BRAGG CREEK
Plan is to do Iron Springs starting at the West Bragg Creek parking lot.

Trail Head: West Bragg Creek
Event Duration: 2.5 Hours
Difficulty Rating: D3: Moderate
Distance: ~ 20 km
Elevation: negligible

Directions: Take Hwy 22 south to Bragg Creek. Just before the 4-way stop in Bragg Creek turn right (Balsam Ave). Take this street for ~500meters to a T-intersection and then turn left (onto Centre Ave). Take this road (which turns into township road 232) for 10km until you reach the West Bragg Creek trail head. The parking lot will be on the right hand (North) side of the road.

WEST BRAGG CREEK
- We'll ski the Moose Loop around the West Bragg Creek area:
Distance: 10-15 km.
Elevation: negligible
Time: 2-3 hours
Moderate
Directions: Take Hwy 22 south to Bragg Creek. Just before the 4-way stop in Bragg Creek turn right (Balsam Ave). Take this street for ~500meters to a T-intersection and then turn left (onto Centre Ave). Take this road (which turns into township road 232) for 10km until you reach the West Bragg Creek trail head. The parking lot will be on the right hand (North) side of the road.

ELK PASS / BLUEBERRY HILL (15-20 kms)
- total distance: approx. 15-20km.
- pace: moderate
- The end of the Blueberry Hill trail gives a wonderful view of the Kananaskis Lakes and surrounding mountains.
- From the Elk Pass parking lot we will follow the Elk Pass Trail to the Blueberry Hill Trail and follow the Blueberry Hill Trail to the end. We will have our lunch break here and enjoy the view. After lunch we will ski back to the Elk Pass Trail and then decide as a group which route we would like to take back to the Elk Pass parking lot. This trip will be all on groomed trails. the total distance will be approx. 15-20km.
- Directions: Follow Hwy 1 west out of town to the junction with Hwy 40. Head south on Hwy 40 for approx 56km. At the winter gate turn right onto Kananaskis Lakes Trail and follow it to the Elk Pass parking lot.


RIBBON CREEK XC SKI
- ski approximately 25 km in and around Ribbon Creek (at a pace of 8-9km/h). This event is for STRONG Intermediate to Advanced Skiers who can ski at a QUICK pace.
- The actual trails to be skied will be determined towards the end of the week once the most recent trail report is released.
- The coordinator has not skied these trails before so there may be some route-finding delays.
- Directions: From Hwy 1, turn south on Hwy 40 to the Nakiska and Kananaskis Village turnoff. Turn west on the paved road signed for Kananaskis Village and Ribbon Creek. Immediately cross a bridge over Kananaskis River. At 0.8 km turn left. At 1 km turn right. Pass the youth hostel, then a covered picnic shelter, both on the right. At 1.6 km reach Ribbon Creek Day Use Area trailhead parking lot. Continue to the far west end.

RIBBON CREEK NOVICE- INTERMEDIATE XC SKI (SLOWER PACED)
- We will ski approximately 10 km on green and blue trails in the Ribbon Creek area at a slower pace (5-6 km/h). This event is best suited to confident novice / intermediate skiers, or easy-going (slow and patient!) advanced skiers. Skiers should be proficient at navigating by the trail signs, and comfortable regulating their speed / steering by snowplowing on moderate hills. If there is a large difference in speed amongst the skiers, we may break up into different speed groups.
- We will leave our cars at the Ribbon Creek parking lot, and ski the 2.5 km to Kananaskis Village via the Evan-Thomas Trail. We will have lunch at the Village (you may pack your own, or purchase it at the cafe) before heading out and skiing the 7.5 km back to Ribbon Creek via the Kovach, Aspen, Link and Ribbon Creek Trails.
- At the time of posting, all trails are listed as being groomed, trackset(except the bike path portion of the Evan-Thomas) and are considered to be in fair condition, with occasional thin patches, drifts and windblown debris (pinecones/twigs etc.) on the trail.
- Directions: From Hwy 1, turn south on Hwy 40 to the Nakiska and Kananaskis Village turnoff. Turn west on the paved road signed for Kananaskis Village and Ribbon Creek. Immediately cross a bridge over Kananaskis River. At 0.8 km turn left. At 1 km turn right. Pass the youth hostel, then a covered picnic shelter, both on the right. At 1.6 km reach Ribbon Creek Day Use Area trailhead parking lot. Continue to the far west end.


GREAT DIVIDE TRAIL
- This event will be dependant on snow conditions. Currently there is bare pavement in Lake Louise but there is up to 30 cms of snow in the forecast for this week. Great divide is not usually as busy as Moraine Lake Road, which can get very busy at the beginning of the season.
- Great Divide trail is usually trackset with a skating lane and although the trail is easy, it is long and we will be keeping a good pace (6 to 7 km/hr) with few breaks, so this event is best suited for experienced intermediate skiers - no beginners or slow skiers please.
- I expect most of the group will do classic skiing but this is one of the few trails that has a skating lane, so skaters are welcome.
- We will ski from Lake Louise to the Lake O'Hara parking lot. We will take a short break at the end of the trail for snacks and return the same way. Distance is ~ 22km round trip with 30 meters elevation.
- Directions: Take Hwy 1 to the Lake Louise turnoff. Turn left, across the highway overpass and follow the signs to the Chateau Lake Louise. Approximately half way up the hill from the townsite to Lake Louise, turn right to the Great Divide parking lot (the Moraine Lake parking lot is just a bit further on the left side of the road).


MORAINE LAKE ROAD
- The trail is relatively easy but we will be keeping a quick pace, so this event is best suited for intermediate to advanced skiers no beginners or slow skiers please.
- The trail climbs gradually with some flat and some gently rolling stretches. It ends at a viewpoint where the road curves and begins to make its way up to the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Beyond this viewpoint, the road crosses large avalanche paths.
- We will for a short lunch break at the turn around point, and then return the same way. Distance is approximately 16km round trip with 250 meters elevation.
- Directions: Take Hwy 1 to the Lake Louise turnoff. Turn left, across the highway overpass and follow the signs to the Chateau Lake Louise. Approximately half way up the hill from the townsite to Lake Louise, turn left to the Moraine Lake Road parking lot.

POCATERRA
- We will ski approximately 8-12 km loop the from Pocaterra Hut down the trail to Lynx, then either down the Amos- Wheeler loop to Meadow or the shorter Amos-Meadow loop. After the ski we will re-group for to lunch at the Pocaterra hut. I would like to try and have a little potluck on our return to the hut so please bring something to share with the rest of the group.
- This trip is best suited for beginner and novice skiers. If there is a big difference in the speed of the skiers, we will break off into groups according to pace, but meet up for lunch at the hut after the ski. Everyone should be comfortable reading the trail maps found on the PLPP trails and orienting themselves.
- Directions: Take Highway 1 west from Calgary, then Highway 40 south all the way to the winter gate. Turn right at the winter gate onto Kananaskis Lakes Trail. Not far up the road, on the left, you will see the Pocaterra area. Meet inside the hut.

START AT BOULTON CREEK
- Going to enjoy some of my favourite trails in K-Country! This trip is for intermediate skiers who are comfortable with steep hills and several hundred meters of elevation gain. We'll be skiing at a goal pace of 6-7km/hr.
- Goal is to follow the Whiskey Jack/Tyrwhitt/Elk Pass route, then back along Elk Pass/Fox Creek/Moraine trails. Exact trails are TBD depending on snow conditions.
- Directions: Follow Hwy 1 west out of town to the junction with Hwy 40. Head south on Hwy 40 for approx 56km. At the winter gate turn right onto Kananaskis Lakes Trail until you see the Boulton Creek Trading Post sign. Turn left and park in the upper lot where the X-country trails begin
- Terrain Classification: This event is exempted from avalanche planning because it is a groomed xc ski trail.

X Country Skiing for beginners (posting 1)

The first place to go is Mountain Equipment Co-op to buy some indispensable books and maps:

Books:
Kananaskis Country Ski Trails by Gillean Daffern
Ski Trails in the Canadian Rockies by Chic Scott

Gem-Trek Maps: (these maps will give you a general overview of the area and indicate the roads you need to take. They also show the trails, but not in great detail.)

Kananaskis Lakes – will show you the Peter Lougheed Prov Park(PLPP) trails
Canmore and Kananaskis Village – will show you the Ribbon Creek and Kananaskis Village trails
Bragg Creek and Elbow Falls – will show you the West Bragg Creek ski trails
The first time you go:

Head west on Hwy #1 to Hwy 40 and turn south(this is the Stoney-Nakoda Casino corner). A few K down Hwy 40, you’ll come to the Barrier Lake Visitor Centre. Stop here and buy some more maps(I think they’re about $1 or $2 each).

Ribbon Creek Cross-Country Ski Trails
Peter Lougheed Prov Park Cross-Country Ski Trails
West Bragg Creek Cross-Country Ski Trails
Beginner Trails

Kananaskis Village-Ribbon Creek and PLPP

If you’re heading south on Hwy #40, the first ski area you will arrive at is the Kananaskis Village – Ribbon Creek trails. The best trails for beginners are Ribbon Creek(accessed at the Ribbon Creek parking lot), and Terrace trail which starts at the village(that was the first trail I ever skied on).

If you drive further south on Hwy #40, you will come to Peter Lougheed Prov Park. Some of the easier trails here would be Pocaterra(accessed at the Pocaterra Hut), Wheeler(accessed at Elkwood Amphitheatre). A kittle-known trail that is the absolute perfect beginner’s trail is Spruce Road and the William Watson Lodge trails(accessed from Elkwood Amphitheatre or William Watson Lodge).

Canmore Nordic Centre

The Banff Trail is wide and rated easy. The initial 3K of this trail is usually man-made snow, so it’s very hard. Maybe not the nicest snow to fall down in. They will also have a multi-lane practice grid beside the Daylodge. You’ll have to pay a $7.50 trail fee to ski at CNC.

West Bragg Creek

I’m not sure if I would recommend these trails for a beginner. If Mountain Road was trackset, it’s pretty easy but very short.

Other Suggestions:

Wait until the trails are trackset as it means there will most likely be good snow cover. Check the Trail Reports for Kananaskis. You don’t want to ski on trails with any hazards as a beginner. The Pocaterra Hut usually has a five lane practice grid that’s good for a beginner. Take a spare pair of gloves in your back pack. Don’t go too far the first time as you want to make sure your new boots don’t give you blisters. If they do, at least it won’t be so far to return. Take blister bandages as a precaution.

Rose was also correct in suggesting the PLPP Visitor Centre as a place for buying the additional detailed maps. Be aware, however, that PLPP Visitor Centre is not open on Tues and Wed.

Bushisms

we are fighting evil, and we will continue to fight evil, and we will not stop until we defeat evil.

We’re also fighting a war overseas, with the purpose of hunting down the evildoers and bringing them to justice. And I’m patient and I’m focused, and I will not yield. We must win.

We are at the beginning of what I view as a very long struggle against evil. We’re not fighting a nation; we’re not fighting a religion; we’re fighting evil. And we have no choice but to prevail.

We’re fighting evil. We don’t fight a religion; we fight evil people.

Americans must know that their government is doing everything we can to track down every rumor, every hint, every possible evildoer.

You see, the evildoers like to hit and then they try to hide. And slowly, but surely, we’re going to make sure they have no place to hide. Slowly, but surely, we’re going to move them out of their holes and what they think is safe havens, and get them on the move.

This is good versus evil. These are evildoers. They have no justification for their actions. There’s no religious justification, there’s no political justification. The only motivation is evil.

My administration has a job to do and we’re going to do it. We will rid the world of the evil-doers.